Ravinia Festival

ARTICLES ABOUT RAVINIA FESTIVAL BY DATE - PAGE 4

Tribune music critics John von Rhein (classical) and Howard Reich (jazz/blues) each pick 10 shows you shouldn't miss this summer: Classical: “The Circus Princess” and “The Cousin from Nowhere”: Emmerich Kalman's three-ring charmer (1926) and Eduard Kunneke's even more obscure Berlin operetta (1921) will run in repertory during June at Chicago Folks Operetta. Both Chicago premieres will be fully staged with orchestra and sung in English. June 8-July 1, Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. $30-$40; 708-383-2742, chicagofolksoperetta.org Carlos Kalmar conducts Gandolfi: The sterling Grant Park Chorus is celebrating its 50th anniversary season with two world premieres at the 2012 Grant Park Music Festival.

Moses Pendleton, formerly of Pilobolus, has continued his exploration of Pilobolus' theatrical contemporary dance style (with a little Cirque du Soleil thrown in) with his own MOMIX dance company. "Botanica" is the fitting program for MOMIX's debut in the outdoor setting of Ravinia, it's theme about constantly changing images in nature. The "dancer-illusionists" create a vivid fantasy with physical choreography, props, costumes, projections and puppetry (with the help of "The Lion King" puppet expert Michael Curry)

Zuill Bailey: Venturing all six of J.S. Bach's technically and musically formidable suites for unaccompanied cello in a single concert is a feat only a select few cellists dare to undertake. Among them is the accomplished American artist Zuill Bailey, who tackles the three-hour marathon in a welcome return to the Ravinia Festival. 6 p.m. Sunday in Bennett-Gordon Hall, 200-231 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park; $10 (no lawn); 847-266-5100, ravinia .org

"An Evening with Mandy Patinkin and Nathan Gunn": A recent piece by Anthony Tommasini in the New York Times addressed the widening breach in the wall between opera and musicals, but Ravinia does away with the barriers altogether with opera superstar Gunn (who will star as Ravenal in the Lyric production of "Show Boat" next winter) and musical powerhouse Patinkin joining forces in a display of vocal fireworks under the stars. 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ravinia Festival, Lake Cook and Green Bay roads, Highland Park; $15 lawn, $75 reserved at 847-266-5100 or ravinia.org "Mass Appeal": Before there was "Doubt," there was Bill C. Davis' 1980 comedy-drama about the rift between warm-and-fuzzy old-school Catholicism, embodied in Irish priest Father Farley, and his young assistant, Mark Dolson, who is eager to address contemporary issues.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra: In its final local appearance of the summer, the CSO will perform the "live" soundtrack to the Tolkien-based blockbuster film "Lord of the Rings — Fellowship of the Ring," with choruses; Ludwig Wicki conducts. 7:30 p.m. Friday at Ravinia Festival, 200-231 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park; $50, $25 lawn; 847-266-5100, ravinia.org Dusk Variations: Two of the city's finest, hippest contemporary ensembles, eighth blackbird and Third Coast Percussion, celebrate Steve Reich on the composer's 75th birthday.

Jennifer Hudson has come a long way since her seventh-place finish on Season 3 of "American Idol" in 2004. Her skyrocketing success includes feature film roles, including a best supporting actress Oscar for "Dreamgirls"; hit songs, with a Grammy win for her self-titled debut; and a transformed physique, thanks to Weight Watchers, for which Hudson is a spokeswoman. Whichever Hudson is your cup of tea (or maybe you just like to support a local talent), you'll want to get to Ravinia, as the high-octane singer will grace the stage for two nights.

In recent years, Chicago pianist-composer Ramsey Lewis has penned ambitious works exploring epic themes such as love ("To Know Her …") and American racial history ("Proclamation of Hope"). Remarkably, his newest opus — which will have its American premiere Sunday night at the Ravinia Festival — takes on perhaps an even broader subject: the way people treat each other here on planet Earth. Each movement of "Colors: The Ecology of Oneness," contemplates a different hue, associating it with a certain element of nature.

Grammy Award winner Peter Frampton celebrates the 35th anniversary of his multiplatinum selling live album, "Frampton Comes Alive!" by performing it in its entirety when his tour makes a stop at Ravinia Festival. Strap yourself in for this one, as early reviews of the tour indicate it's nothing short of three hours. Fans don't seem to mind, however, as they are transported back to the wondrous '70s. And, yes, it's OK to hold up your lighter for "Baby, I Love Your Way. " 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ravinia Festival, 200-231 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park; $50, $22-$27 lawn; 847-266-5100, ravinia.org